The Hate Bombs are one of Rock at Night’s favorites for surfer, retro, rockabilly, punk, well…it is almost impossible to define their genre. They have reformed after many years, spending the early 1990’s in Orlando and environs and are bringing back the completely retro sound that has taken hold here in the US and across the pond in the British Isles. The Hate Bombs toured throughout the southeast US and were putting out an EP each year after 1994 and then did two full length recordings; “Here Comes Treble” in 1997 and “Hunt You Down” in 1999. 

Rock at Night caught their set as they opened for the Wooley Bushmen at Skipper’s Smokehouse and we immediately loved their songs and stage presence. It was an off night and there wasn’t a large audience, but the band played a long and vibrant set and rocked like they were playing for an arena full of fans! 

The Woolly Bushmen also come from Orlando and they rounded out the show with some of their die-hard fans rocking it out in the audience. The lead singer, keyboardist and guitarist, Simon Palombi is also the primary songwriter of the group. When he sings, it is easy for one to hear the influences; for a few of the songs he sounded like the Big Bopper, on others Jerry Lee Lewis and for one song in particular he sounded like Bon Scott (of early AC/DC). His brother, Julian is on the drums and Jacob Miller plays both guitar and bass.

Simon calls the band’s genre “garage-a-billy” music. Definitely elements of punk rock, 50s, 60s, 70’s, rockabilly, even soul and rhythm and blues. The sound is very retro and it is recorded that way too. “We record everything completely analog to a couple reel to reel tape recorders in our garage,” Simon elaborated back in 2015.”Our latest album “Sky Bosses” was recorded to an old 4 track from the late 60’s.”  He insists that this technique gives them the best results when recording.

Both brothers started playing music when they were 5 years old. A typical Woolly Bushmen show will see Simon, play vintage VOX organ then guitar. Super talented Jacob Miller, plays guitar and then switches to the bass depending on if Simon is playing the organ or the guitar.

The band’s songs are based around melodic lines on keyboard and guitar with fun choruses and bright sing-along hooks that sound reminiscent of the 50’s and 60’s chart toppers. This year, the band has been touring with Southern Culture on the Skids and both have some upcoming shows in October in the northeast! Rock at Night covered SCOTS last year. You can see that story HERE. The Woolly Bushmen love what they do and it shows! Check out their music on Bandcamp and other music sites, their social networks or catch one of their shows.

WEBSITE-THE WOOLLY BUSHMEN

WEBSITE-THE HATE BOMBS